Wordsmith.org: the magic of words


A.Word.A.Day

About | Media | Search | Contact  


Home

Today's Word

Yesterday's Word

Archives

FAQ


Nov 1, 2006
This week's theme
Ordinal words

This week's words
fifth column
fourth estate
third degree
second fiddle
first water

On your calendar
Get A.Word.A.Day on your calendar

Bookmark and Share Facebook Twitter Digg MySpace Bookmark and Share
A.Word.A.Day
with Anu Garg

third degree

(thurd di-GREE) Pronunciation Sound Clip

noun: Intensive questioning using rough treatment.

adjective: Pertaining to the third degree.

verb: To subject to such treatment.

[There are many folk etymologies regarding possible origins of this term but lexicographers are not certain. The more popular of the stories suggests it came from the third degree in freemasonry that was the most difficult to achieve. One aspiring to that rank was supposed to undergo intense questioning and grilling.]

"John Dingell loved nothing more than to call witnesses before his committee and give them the third degree."
Thomas Bray; Do Elephants Have Ideas?; The New York Sun; Oct 25, 2006.

See more usage examples of third degree in Vocabulary.com's dictionary.

X-Bonus

Many a man thinks he is buying pleasure, when he is really selling himself to it. -Benjamin Franklin, statesman, author, and inventor (1706-1790)

We need your help

Help us continue to spread the magic of words to readers everywhere

Donate

Subscriber Services
Awards | Stats | Links | Privacy Policy
Contribute | Advertise

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith